Collège-Lycée Saint-Martin de France

“Collège-Lycée Saint-Martin de France. A sprawling 35-hectare campus, just a stone’s throw from the bustling heart of Paris.” A student, perhaps lost in thought about an upcoming exam, might murmur those words as they hurried across the grounds. Collège-Lycée Saint-Martin de France isn’t just a school. It’s a world unto itself. Established in 1929, Saint-Martin de France stands as a testament to a unique vision of education. This private institution, operating under contract with the French state, embraces the Oratorian philosophy, emphasizing trust, open-mindedness, respect for freedom, and a thirst for creativity. The school’s founder, Father Duprey, chose this expansive estate to provide students with a high-quality education and a nurturing environment. The school’s history intertwines with the very land it occupies. Centuries ago, monks sought refuge here during a devastating plague. When the scourge subsided, they established a Benedictine abbey, laying the groundwork for the educational institution that would later rise on this hallowed ground. Saint-Martin de France carries the legacy of this abbey within its walls, particularly in the Abbaye boarding house. It sits on the very spot where the old Benedictine abbey stood before a fire consumed it in 1791. The 12th-century tower still stands, a silent witness to centuries of history. Collège-Lycée Saint-Martin de France isn’t simply defined by its past. It vibrates with the energy of its present. Nearly a thousand students, boys and girls, live and learn within its walls, following a curriculum that blends French tradition with Anglo-Saxon boarding house structure. The houses, fifteen in all, including one currently closed called l’Ermitage, form the backbone of the school’s social fabric. Each house fosters a sense of community, and friendly rivalry comes alive during the inter-house sports competitions, known as the “Maurice-Duprey Challenge,” named after the school’s founder. From football and rugby to tennis and even golf, students engage in a wide range of sports. Some might even pursue the Brevet d’Initiation Aéronautique. This aviation qualification hints at the breadth of opportunities available at Saint-Martin de France. Collège-Lycée Saint-Martin de France prides itself on academic excellence, boasting a 97% baccalaureate success rate in 2022, exceeding national and departmental averages. The school offers a diverse array of specializations, from literature and philosophy to economics and even aerospace. It fosters creativity through art, music, and theater, while nurturing intellectual curiosity with themed classes in areas like Itech, European studies, and civics and defense. Even the school’s uniform, with its navy blazers, striped ties, and white shirts, speaks to a sense of tradition and belonging. It is a uniform worn with pride on arrival and departure days, connecting the students to the school’s rich history. Collège-Lycée Saint-Martin de France is more than an institution; it is a living story. It’s a place where history whispers from ancient stones and the future unfolds on playing fields and in classrooms.